Fisher Space Pen Refill | Ultralight Hack

I know a lot of people that carry a Fisher Space pen refill (not the whole pen) as their ultralight writing solution for taking notes along the trail. Let me first say that I’m not a big fan of the Fisher pressurized ink refill, it constantly globs up and is slow to dry, but it does work every time I need to write something and it certainly lasts for a very long time. Of course the Fisher Space Pen refill is well known for being able to write on almost any surface, at any angle, and even under water – it’s definitely earned a great reputation there.

However, I find that trying to hold just the thin refill in my hand is a pretty uncomfortable experience and not a particularly great solution for writing anything more than a few short words, I definitely wouldn’t want to be writing a long trail journal with it.

I like the overall idea of carrying just the Space Pen refill, but it needed just a little improvement to be more comfortable to use. So, I came up with a really easy “why didn’t I think of that before” type of duct tape hack. For this hack you will need:

Instructions:Cut off a one-inch strip of duct tape and lay it down on a flat surface, sticky side up, with the shorter sides at the top and bottom. Take your Fisher Space Pen refill and lay it horizontally across the middle of the strip of duct tape so that the tape edge starts at the thicker part of the refill and extends down towards the end.

Now cut a second one-inch strip of duct tape and place it exactly on top of the first piece so that the two sticky sides make contact. You will need to smooth the tape flat around the barrel of the refill so that it is snug and secure.

The final step is to use a pair of scissors or a sharp knife to round off the corners of the tape and make it a little bit more presentable – after all duct tape hacks have to look good, right? That’s all there is to it. You can do the hack a heck of a lot faster than it took me to write this blog post, but I like to share :-)

I find that the tiny flap of duct tape that this hack creates, provides just the right amount of additional purchase for my fingers to be able to hold the refill more comfortably without getting cramp or fatigue in my hand. If you try it and like it be sure to let me know. If you have any other ways to hack a Fisher Space pen refill, let me know that too. Happy Hacking!

Ingenious! I’ve used Fisher pens for years, but rather than carrying only the refill I have the Stowaway model, extremely small and light but including a cap and clip. Being able to extend the length of the pen with the cap makes it considerably more comfortable to write with. Not as cheap as the refills, but I found a shop a few years ago selling off their stock and bought several. Should last a few years yet.

http://www.blogger.com/profile/05006070087363780845 Kevin

I was wondering why you use a pen over a good hard lead pencil.

Not to get off topic, but the I can not seem to find the grid lined paper shown in that photo on the Moleskine website. Can you give me the model of the book you are writing in?

THanks-Kevin

http://www.blogger.com/profile/09628095804170935682 Brian

Kevin, I am a HUGE pencil nut, so I hear you. Check out my Rite-in-the-Rain pencil hack. I’m out of town on vacation right now so I can’t look up the model# for the Moleskine cahier I use. As soon as I get back home I will let you know, I prefer grid paper :-)

http://www.blogger.com/profile/09628095804170935682 Brian

Kevin, the grid-patterned Moleskines that I use (pictured in the second photo) are the Moleskine Cahiers set of 3 Squared Journals [ISBN 978-88-6293-096-3]. They’re thin and come in a pack of three. I find them the perfect size for a pocket and much lighter than a full-blown Moleskine hard cover notebook.

http://www.blogger.com/profile/12685412912767965560 Big Jack Brass

Ingenious! I’ve used Fisher pens for years, but rather than carrying only the refill I have the Stowaway model, extremely small and light but including a cap and clip. Being able to extend the length of the pen with the cap makes it considerably more comfortable to write with. Not as cheap as the refills, but I found a shop a few years ago selling off their stock and bought several. Should last a few years yet.

Recent Comments

Archives

@bfgreen on Instagram

@bfgreen on Pinterest

More Ways To Connect

Facebook Page

Twitter Feed

Google+ Page

Instagram Feed

Flickr Photostream

Pinterest Boards

About Brian

Brian is a Charlotte based backpacker, gear junkie, runner, and CrossFit(er). Originally from Southampton, England, Brian has lived in the US for over 15 years, finally settling in North Carolina. He spends as much time backpacking as his busy work schedule and family life will allow.